Authorities today are determining whether the death of a four-month-old girl should be prosecuted as a homicide.

Police responded early Wednesday morning to a child abuse hotline call from Rush Hospital and found the infant in critical condition. The girl,  Kiyarah Taylor, died later that day.

Her father, Lemuel Shawn Lucas, 21, of the 8200 block of South Cottage Grove Ave., was charged with aggravated battery of a child and attempted first degree murder at 4 a.m. Wednesday.

The Cook County Medical Examiner's Office is conducting an autopsy. Police said the results, expected tomorrow, will determine whether Lucas is charged with homicide.

A spokesperson for the Department of Child and Family Services said Kiyarah was Lucas' only child. It was not immediately clear whether Lucas or the child's mother had previously been the subject of abuse complaints.

DCFS said it is investigating the death as a possible child abuse case.

Comments

---

Please log in or register to post your comment.